If you spend downtime in your car waiting for school pickup or during a lunch break, there's a good chance you pass the time with mobile games. Here's what you probably didn't know: You could be playing some of those games on your car's screen instead. A handful of popular mobile games are compatible with Android Auto, meaning you can play them in your car.

Also: 4 Android Auto developer settings that make driving so much easier - how to enable them

You might have browsed your Android Auto apps and already seen the Gamesnacks app, which hosts several dozen light games that are not unlike early internet flash games. However, these games are more robust; they're the same games you'd play on your phone, just on a bigger screen.

The catalog of Android Auto-compatible games isn't huge, but it's worth a look. None of these titles has complex controls or a steep learning curve, and all are perfect for short sessions.

To play on your car's screen, you will need to install these games on your phone and have your vehicle in park. The good thing is, though, when you're connected to your car and open the app on Android Auto, you can still use your phone for other things. This is ideal when you have a child in the car with you and need to pass the time, but don't want to hand over your phone.

Also: 4 Android Auto apps I highly recommend for your next road trip - beyond Maps and Spotify